Racing: 1500 mourners farewell Nathan Berry at Rosehill

Just two months ago Whitney Schofield walked down the aisle on the arm of her father Glyn on the happiest day of her life, her wedding to Sydney jockey Nathan Berry.

Yesterday, Whitney Berry walked sadly between an honour guard of Nathan's fellow jockeys who came to pay tribute to a young man whose life was cut short by a rare and relentless illness. Berry died last week from the epilepsy-related Norse syndrome after collapsing on March 18 in Singapore where he had just begun to make his mark as an international rider.

The 23-year-old was farewelled at Rosehill Racecourse by his family and 1500 others wearing his favourite colour, blue.

Amid tears and laughter he was remembered as a boy who, along with his identical twin brother Tommy, grew up wanting nothing more than to be the successful jockeys they had become.

"Even when he was sick in hospital, he said 'please don't cry baby. Everything's going to be OK'," Whitney Berry said.

Tommy Berry spoke of the bond between him and his brother and closest friend.

"People always say we are the same age but Nathan was 40 minutes older and to me he was my older brother," he said.

"I looked up to him so much. He was the first one to help me out, to always put a smile on my face."